AXA XL has strengthened its team in India with five strategic appointments, reinforcing its commitment to a country that it considers a key growth pillar in Asia.
Saumitra Sharma joined the business as Chief Underwriting Officer on 12 May 2025, having moved from Swiss Re and bringing with him 20 years of experience in underwriting, risk engineering, reinsurance, and claims.
Saurabh Bhootara became Property, Energy, and Construction Underwriter on 1 April 2025. He brings more than 15 years of experience in property and engineering underwriting and risk assessment, most recently with Liberty Mutual.
Priya Manchanda took up the role of Claims Specialist on 8 April 2025. She has 10 years of experience in the insurance sector, including four years of direct client and broker engagement. She previously worked at WTW India.
Vinod Kumar moved into the role of Assistant Underwriter on 6 May 2025. He is an existing AXA XL employee with over 13 years of risk management experience across cyber, casualty, and property lines.
Akash Jain joined as Underwriting Assistant on 14 May 2025, bringing 11 years of operational experience and having previously managed facultative and treaty programmes at K.M. Dastur Reinsurance Brokers.
The new appointments follow the arrival of Alok Shukla, who moved from Munich Re to become Chief Executive Officer of XL Insurance Company SE – India Reinsurance Branch on 1 April 2025.
“These appointments mark an important step forward in strengthening our capabilities in India,” Shukla said. “Each new team member brings specialist expertise and a deep understanding of the market, enabling us to better support our clients and broker partners. I’m delighted to welcome them to the team.”
Sylvie Gleises, CEO of AXA XL Asia, also spoke on the importance of the hires. “India is a key market for AXA XL’s growth in Asia,” she said. With Alok at the helm and a strong team in place, we are well-positioned to deepen our market presence and deliver greater value to our partners.”
